[Reconstruction of the common carotid artery with autogenous external jugular vein graft in goats].

OBJECTIVE: To establish a method for reconstruction of carotid artery defect with autogenous graft of external jugular vein, to investigate the patency rate and histopathologic changes at different times after implantation. METHODS: 3 healthy adult goats were used as the experimental models. A segment of 2 cm autogenous external jugular vein was used to bridge a surgical defect of the common carotid artery (2 cm long). The six necks of the three animals were divided into A and B group randomly. In Group A, both cut ends of the artery were anastomosed end to end with the venous graft. In Group B, the proximal end of the artery was anastomosed end to side with the venous graft. The patency rate was recorded at different times. The venous grafts with anastomotic sites were harvested at 2 weeks, 3 months and 6 months after implantation, respectively, for histopathologic examinations. RESULTS: The grafts in Group A were patent at 2 weeks and 3 months, but occluded at 6 months. The grafts in Group B were patent at 2 weeks and 6 months, but not patent at 3 months. Chi-square test demonstrated insignificant difference in patency rate between Group A and Group B. Histopathologic examinations showed intimal hyperplasia and venous arterialization in venous autografts. The venous wall was loose and edematous, intimal and subintimal hyperplasia was prominent at 2 weeks. Proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cell was found at 3 months after implantation. At 6 months, the venous media was predominantly composed of smooth muscle. Intimal hyperplasia was most prominent adjacent to the anastomosis. CONCLUSION: Reconstruction of the common carotid artery with autogenous graft of external jugular vein had a higher patency rate. The main histopathologic changes after implantation is intimal hyperplasia and venous arterialization. Intimal hyperplasia is the result of proliferation and migration of host arterial smooth muscle cell, which passes through the anastomosis to the intima of the vein graft.